Apparatus for reproducing pattern with mirror image of the outline thereof



LM MMJ I Dec. 6, 1960 Filed March 13,

APPARATUS FOR REP.

IMAGE OF M F. LAURENT 2,962,940

RODUCING PATTERN WITH MIRROR THE OUTLINE THEREOF 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MaraeZ Flay/627;

Dec. 6, 1960 M. F. LAURENT 2,962,940

APPARATUS FOR REPRODUCING PATTERN WITH MIRROR IMAGE OF THE OUTLINE THEREOF Filed March 15, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. flame? Fla /e125 Amp/7 x :would involve. inaccuracy of the reproduction inherent in prior apparatus of this type by virtue of inevitable play between "moving parts, if not at first then certainly within a rela- United States t APPARATUS FOR REPRODUCING PATTERN WITH MIRROR IMAGE OF THE OUTLINE THEREOF Marcel F. Laurent, Milford, Conn., assignor to The Laurent Corporation, Milford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Mar. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 75 9,26 1

5 Claims. (Cl. 90-13.1)

This invention relates to apparatus for reproducing patterns with mirror images of the outlines thereof.

The present invention is concerned with the reproduction in exact reverse of a pattern of any shape particularly without symmetry, with the reproduction being congruent with the pattern on inverting either 180 degrees relative to the other. Thus, it is contemplated to produce molds or casting dies with cavities of outlines in exact reverse or of the mirror images of the non-symmetric outlines of the cavities of their companion molds or dies, or to produce reverse companion figures of nonsymmetric outline in relief on integral bases thereof, for example. Hence, the present invention is concerned, in the first place, with the reproduction in exact reverse of a non-symmetric outline of a two-dimensional figure, and is concerned, in the second place, with the production of a three-dimensional cavity or object in relief having this outline or figure. Thus, if a cavity is to be produced the figure or outline thereof is additionally machined within its confines to the desired cavity depth, and if an object in relief is to be reproduced the figure or outline thereof is additionally machined outside its confines to bring it into relief.

Prior apparatus of this type involve, for circumscription of the pattern outline and of the reverse outline thereof on the reproduction blank, not only unitary longitudinal movement either of the pattern and reproduction blank or of their coordinated tracer and reproducing tool in the same direction, but also simultaneous transverse movement in equal amounts but in opposite directions either of the pattern and reproduction blank or of their coordinated tracer and reproducing tool. To this end, the parts thus movable are carried by separate tables which for the aforementioned transverse movement of the parts are received in parallel guideways, and have an operating connection which moves either table in its guideway in one direction when the other table is moved in its guideway in the opposite direction.

While these prior apparatus are generally satisfactory in most respects, they are not so satisfactory in a few but important respects. Thus, the provision of two tables and separate guideways therefor and of a special motion-reversing operating connection between them not only renders the cost of prior apparatus of this type rather high and in fact sufiiciently high to prohibit its purchase for many applications for which it would otherwise be adapted, but is hardly conducive to convert available conventional milling machines to apparatus of this type because of the major task and cost which this Of even greater concern is the potential ticularly vulnerable in their accuracy of reproduction by damaging play not only of the aforementioned tables in Zoe their separate guideways but also in the motion-reversing connections between these tables. In this respect, prior apparatus of this reverse pattern reproduction type are far more vulnerable in their accuracy of reproduction than are apparatus for direct pattern reproduction in which most, if not all, play atfecting the accuracy of the reproductions is or can readily be eliminated.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide apparatus of reverse pattern reproduction type which for the longest time will reproduce patterns in reverse with greater accuracy than can be achieved with prior apparatus of this type, and even with the optimum accuracy of reproduction which is achieved with apparatus of the direct reproduction type.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide apparatus of reverse pattern reproduction type which not only eliminates the numerous soources of potential play in prior apparatus of this type directly affecting the accuracy of the reproduction, but also renders such play between operating parts as will inevitably occur in time largely, if not totally, ineffectual insofar as the accuracy of the reproduction is concerned.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus of reverse pattern reproduction type in which neither the reproduction blank nor the reproducing tool need at any time move in a direction different from that of the pattern or of the tracer, thereby eliminating the play so damaging to the accuracy of the reproduction and ensuing from the aforementioned hitherto imperative transverse movement in opposite directions of the pattern and reproduction blank or of the coordinated tracer and reproducing tool.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of reverse pattern reproduction type which is structurally exceedingly simple and can be built at much lower cost than that of prior apparatus of this type.

A further object of the present invention is to design the immediate device for the reverse pattern reproduction so that the same may not only be built at a cost which is but a small fraction of that of the prior devices for the same purpose, but may also be installed in no time at all and even by an unskilled operator in any available direct pattern reproduction apparatus, or for that matter in any conventional milling machine, for conversion of the same, temporarily or permanently, into reverse pattern reproduction apparatus. In so doing, reverse pattern reproduction apparatus become available at such low cost as to render them feasible for adaption to many applications for which they were heretofore not feasible due to prohibitive cost.

It is another object of the present invention to provide: apparatus of reverse pattern reproduction type in which, for the relative movability of the pattern, reproduc ion blank, tracer and reproducing tool requisite for producing the reverse outline of the pattern on the reproduction blank, the sole moving mounting for these parts may be the conventional longitudinally movable table on the transversely movable table on the knee or bed of an ordinary milling machine, while the additional relative movement of these parts for depth cut of the reproduction may be achieved by vertical movement of the table-carrying knee relative to the milling head, or vice versa, thereby requiring no more movable part supports than those of direct pattern reproduction. apparatus, and

of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary cavitytype pattern to be reproduced with the mirror image of .its cavity outline in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the reproduction of the pattern of Fig. l with the mirror image of the cavity outline of the latter; and

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are front, top and side views, respectively, of apparatus embodying the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof,'the reference numerals Ill and 12 designate the companion members of an exemplary partible mold for casting an object, presently a hoist hook. To this end, the mold members and 12 have com plementary cavities 14 and 16, respectively, of the outline of a hoist hook. The hoist hook was arbitrarily chosen for illustration, its outline being representative of non-symmetric outlines of many other mold or die cavities with which the present invention is concerned. Thus, in order that the exemplary mold cavities 14 and 16 may be truly complemental, or congruent, on closing the mold members 10, 12 for a casting operation, it follows, and it appears from Figs. 1 and 2, that the outline of one mold cavity must be the reverse or mirror image of the outline of the other mold cavity. Hence, assuming that the mold member 10 has been provided with the cavity 14 in one conventional manner by first laying out the profile of the cavity on the mold surface 18 and then gradually machining the cavity into this mold surface within its laid-out outline, the task of providing the othermold member 12 in conventional manner with its cavity 16 is clearly more diflicult than the formation of the first cavity 14, for the second cavity 16 must not only be truly complementary with, but in its outline also the reverse or mirror image of that of, the first cavity 14. The hereinafter described apparatus of the present invention will immeasurably facilitate the above-mentioned task of producing the second of the complementary mold cavities with its outline reversed from that of the first-produced mold cavity.

By way of example and without limitation, the present invention is shown embodied in apparatus 20 (Figs. 3 to 5) which is quite similar to a conventional milling machine with the usual longitudinal and cross feed provisions and also vertical feed provisions. Thus, the apparatus 20 comprises a frame 22 providing a presently vertical guideway 24 for a bed or knee 26 with its usual vertical feed provisions, including a handle 28, bevel gears 30 and an elevating screw 32 (Figs. 3 and 5). Slidable on a presently horizontal guideway or track 36 on the knee 26 is a support or saddle 38 with its usual cross-feed provisions, including a handle 40 and an operating screw 42. The saddle 38 is provided with another horizontal guideway 44 for a table 46 with its usual longitudinal feed provisions, including a handle or handles 48 and an operating screw 50. The table 46 is in its presently horizontal top surface 51 provided with the usual longitudinal T-slots 52 for sliding reception of blocks 54 to which may releasably be bolted the exemplary mold member 10 in securely supported position on the top surface of the table 46.

The mold member 10 serves presently as a pattern from which to reproduce the companion mold member 12 with the cavity 16 of reverse or mirror image outline (Fig. 2). To this end, there is associated in tracing relation with the supported pattern 10 a tracer 56 which is carried by the overhanging head 58 of the machine frame 22. The tracer 56 is adapted to trace the two-dimensional outline of the cavity 14 in the top surface 18 of the pattern 10, as well as the remaining third, depthwise, dimension of this cavity, and the ensuing relative tracing motion between the pattern and tracer is duplicated between a reproducing tool and a blank in a manner to be described for reproducing in the latter the pattern cavity 14 of reverse outline.

The tracer-carrying head 58 is presently a part separate from the machine frame 22, and is arranged in a horizontal guideway 60 in the latter for adjustment therein transversely of the table 46. Also, the tracer 56 is carried in a casing 62 which, in the present instance, is mounted on the head 58 for adjustment longitudinally of the table 46. However, the tracer 56 is, in the present example, fixed in position for and during each operation of the apparatus. Accordingly, the saddle 38 and table 46 are, through proper manipulationof the operating handles 40 and 48, so moved in their respective guideways 36 and 44 that on the resulting movement of the table 46 in the transverse directions of the guideways 36 and 44 the twodirnensional outline of the pattern cavity 14 will be traced by the fixed tracer 56, as will be readily understood. For tracing the remaining third or depthwise dimension of the pattern cavity 14 with the fixed tracer, the bed or knee 26, with the saddle 38 and the patterncarrying table 46 thereon, is moved in the vertical guideway 24 toward and away from the tracer 56, i.e., perpendicular to the top surfaces 51 and 18 of the table 46 and supported pattern 10 thereon, in a manner described hereinafter.

In accordance with the present invention, the aforementioned reproduction blank B, which is to be formed into the mold member 12 with its complemental cavity 16 of reverse outline, is presently carried by the head 58, i.e., the part of the apparatus which carries the tracer 56, while the aforementioned reproducing tool 64 is presently carried by the table 46, i.e., the part of the apparatus which carries the pattern 10. Accordingly, the pattern 10 and reproducing tool 64 will, in the present instance, move in unison relative to the tracer 56 and supported blank B on the aforementioned three-dimensional tracing of the pattern cavity 14 with the tracer 56. With the blank B removably supported in any suitable manner on the lower, presently horizontal, surface 66 of the head 58 and with the reproducing tool 64 properly confronting the surface 68 of the supported blank B, the described motion of the table 46 in the transverse directions of the guideways 36 and 44 for tracing the outline of the pattern cavity 14 will result in the formation by the tool 64 on or in the confronting surface 63 of the blank B of the mirror image of the outline of the pattern cavity 14. This follows clearly from Fig. 4 in which the outlines of the cavities 14 and 16 in the pattern 10 and blank B, respectively, though appearing to be identical, are in reality the reverse or mirror image of each other since the blank B is shown inverted 180 degrees with respect to the pattern 10. It follows further from Fig. 3 that on the described vertical movement of the knee 26, saddle 38 and table 46 for tracing the remaining third or depthwise dimension of the pattern cavity 14 with the tracer 56, the reproducing tool 64 will duplicate the same third cavity dimension in the blank B.

The reproducing tool 64, which is presently a socalled end mill, is preferably part of a separate repro duction unit 70 having a casing 72 in which the tool 64 is mounted, presently for longitudinal adjustment therein, and an electric motor 74 for operating the tool. Conveniently and advantageously, the reproduction unit 70 is with its casing 72 releasably mounted on the table 46. The operating screw 32 for the vertical feed of the knee 26, saddle 38 and table 46 is, in the present instance, threadedly received in a plunger 76 in a cylinder 78 at the base of the frame 22 (Fig. 5). The lower part or end of the cylinder 78 is through a conduit 80 in communication with a valve (not shown) which is customarily under automatic control of the tracer itself to vent the lower cylinder end or to admit fluid under pressure thereinto.

Following is a description of an operation of the exemplary apparatus 20. Thus, assuming that the pattern 10 and blank B have just been mounted on the table 46 and head 58, respectively, while the table 46 is in its lowermost position and the lower end of the cylinder 78 is vented so that the plunger 76 therein will also be in its lowermost position, the knee 26, saddle 38 and table 46 will, on admission of fluid under pressure into the lower end of the cylinder 78, be raised for the full upstroke of the plunger 76, with the surface 18 of the pattern coming to rest short of engagement with the tracer 56. The handle 28 is then cranked for turning the operating screw 32 to further raise the parts 26, 38 and 46 until the top surface 18 of the pattern 10 is in engagement with the tracer 56 and the reproducing tool 64 in subs'tantial engagement with the confronting surface 68 of the mounted blank B. With the reproducing tool 64 then power-driven, the apparatus may perform its operation by following one of the usual procedures, name- 1y, feeding the table 64 longitudinally back and forth, interrupted by intermittent cross-feed of the same at each longitudinal reversal of the table in steps commensurate with the permissible cut, and periodically giving the handle 28 a turn to raise the pattern and reproducing tool in amounts commensurate with permissible depth cuts of the reproducing tool. This procedure is repeated as often as necessary to achieve the final depth of the reproduction. With the reproduction finished, the lower end of the cylinder 78 is vented to permit the knee 26, saddle 38 and table 46 to gravitate into a lower position for the removal of the pattern 10 and/or finished reproduction 12 from the apparatus.

" The present exemplary apparatus also contemplates the simultaneous reproduction of the pattern cavity 14 of the same outline in a blank B which, when finished, is to be used as a companion mold member with the finished blank B so as to have the single pattern 10 available for the reproduction of as many companion mold members 10, 12 (Figs. 1 and 2) as are desired. To this end, the blank B is releasably mounted on the table 46, while a reproducing unit 7%, similar to the described reproducing unit 70, is mounted on the head 58. Thus, on tracing the pattern cavity with the tracer 56 in the manner described hereinbefore, the tool 64' of the reproducing unit 70' will produce exactly the same cavity with the same outline in the blank B, as will'bef readily understood.

As already mentioned, the present invention relating to the reproduction of the pattern with the mirror image of the outline thereof is demonstrated in exemplary apparatus in which the table 46 is movable in two horizontal transverse directions for tracing the outline of the pattern cavity with a presently fixed tracer, and is also movable perpendicularly of these transverse directions for tracing the remaining third dimension or depth of the pattern cavity with the same tracer. However, the present invention is neither limited, nor intended to be limited, to this exemplary apparatus. Thus, it is a basic requirement of the present invention that the reproducing tool participates with the pattern and the reproduction blank participates with the tracer in the overall relative tracing movement between the pattern and tracer. This may readily be achieved by moving either the pattern and reproducing tool pair or the tracer and reproduction blank pair in two transverse directions in a plane of any disposition, or moving these pairs in one and the other of these transverse directions, respectively, for tracing the pattern outline with the tracer, and moving either one of these pairs, or even both pairs, perpendicularly of these transverse directions for tracing the pattern depthwise with the tracer. Accordingly, it is a prerequisite of the present invention that the reproducing tool moves with the pattern and/or the reproduction blank moves with the tracer, in the relative movement between tracer and pattern requisite for tracing the latter in all its dimensions with the former. This is achieved, preferably and advantageously, but not ex- 5 clusively, by providing for common relatively movable supports for the reproducing tool and pattern pair and for the reproduction blank and tracer pair, respectively, as in the disclosed apparatus, for example.

While the present invention has been demonstrated in the reproduction of an exemplary cavity of non-symmetric outline, the present invention is, of course, fully adaptable for the reproduction of patterns in relief on a base with the reproduction having the reverse or mirror image on the non-symmetric outline of the relief pattern.

The apparatus of the invention, such as the exemplary apparatus 20, thus features joint movab ility of reproducing tool and pattern or of reproduction blank and tracer, or both, in tracing the pattern in all its dimensions with the tracer. This feature secures some very important advantages in the art of reproducing patterns with reverse or mirror image outlines. Thus, the exemplary apparatus 20 is indicative of the ease and structural simplicity involved in converting :a conventional milling machine into apparatus of the present invention. In this connection, all that is required for the conversion in this respect of a milling machine is the provision of a mount for the blank on the head of the machine and ready attachment of a reproduction unit on the longitudinal table of the machine, besides the replacement of the usual screw housing for the vertical feed screw with a cylinder and plunger unit. Of even greater importance is the ability of the apparatus of the invention to repro duce a pattern with the mirror image of its outline with considerably greater accuracy than was possible heretofore. In fact, the apparatus of the invention will reproduce patterns with reverse or' mirror image outlines with the same optimum accuracy achieved with'direct pattern reproduction apparatus as mentioned hereinbefore.

The invention may be carried out in other specific Ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

g 1. In apparatus for reproducing on an exposed surface of a blank member the mirror image of a pattern outline on an exposed surface of a pattern member, the combination of first and second supports having provisions for mounting thereon pattern and blank members, respectively, with their exposed surfaces being parallel to each other; a tracer member carried by said second support in tracing relation with the pattern outline on a mounted pattern member on said first support; and a. line-producing member carried by said first support in line-producing relation with the exposed surface of a mounted blank member on said second support, said supports with their respective members thereon being relatively movable in two transverse directions parallel to the exposed surfaces of the mounted pattern and blank members, so that the mirror image of the pattern outline will be produced on the exposed surface of the mounted blank member by said line-producing member on relative movement between said supports to trace the pattern outline on the mounted pattern member with said tracer member.

2. In apparatus for producing on a blank member a three-dimensional pattern identical with, but of the mirror image of the pattern outline of, a three-dimensional pattern of a pattern member having its two-dimensional pattern outline on an exposed surface of the pattern member, the combination of first and second supports having provisions for mounting thereon pattern and blank members, respectively, with the exposed surface of the pattern member being parallel to an exposed surface of the blank member; a tracer member carried by said second support in tracing relation with the outline and remaining third depth dimensions of the pattern of the mounted pattern member on said first support; and a tool member carried by said first support in pattern reproducing relation with the exposed surface of the mounted blank member on said second support and also depthwise thereof, said supports with their respective members thereon being relatively movable in two transverse directions parallel to the exposed surfaces of the mounted pattern and blank members and also perpendicularly to said surfaces, so that on relative movement between said supports to trace the outline and depth dimensions of the pattern of the mounted pattern member with said tracer member, said tool member will simultaneously reproduce on the mounted blank member the same pattern with its pattern outline on the exposed surface of the blank member being the mirror image of that on the exposed surface of the pattern member.

3. In apparatus for producing in a blank member a mold cavity identical with, but of the mirror image of the cavity outline of, a three-dimensional mold cavity in a mold member having its two-dimensional cavity outline on a plane exposed surface of the mold member, the combination of first and second supports having provisions for mounting thereon mold and blank members, respectively, with the plane exposed surface of the mold member being parallel to an exposed surface of the blank member; a tracer member carried by said second support in tracing relation with the outline and remaining third depth dimensions of the cavity in the mounted mold memher on said first support; and a tool member carried by said first support in cavity reproducing relation with the exposed surface of the mounted blank member on said second support and also depthwise thereof, said supports with their respective members thereon being relatively movable in two transverse directions parallel to the exposed surfaces of the mounted mold and blank members and also perpendicularly to said surfaces, so that on relative movement between said supports to trace the outline and depth dimensions of the cavity in the mold member with said tracer member, said tool member will simultaneously reproduce in the mounted blank member the same cavity with its cavity outline on the exposed surface of the blank member being the mirror image of that on the mold member.

4. In apparatus for reproducing on an exposed surface of a blank member the mirror image of a pattern outline being produced on an exposed surface of another blank member, the combination of first and second supports having provisions for mounting thereon blank members, respectively, with their exposed surfaces being parallel to each other; and first and second line-producing mem bers carried by said second and first supports, respectiveof the mounted blank members, so that on relative move ment between said supports to produce a pattern outline on the exposed surface of the mounted blank member on said first support by said first line-producing member. the mirror image of the same pattern outline is simultaneously produced on the exposed surface of the mounted blank member on said second support by said second lineproducing member.

5. In apparatus for producing on a blank member a three-dimensional pattern identical with, but of the mirror image of the pattern outline of, a, three-dimensional pattern being produced on another blank member, the combination of first and second supports having provisions for mounting thereon blank members, respectively, with exposed surfaces thereof being parallel to each other; first and second reproducing tool members carried by said second and first supports, respectively, in reproducing relation with the exposed surfaces of the mounted blank members on said first and second supports, respectively, and also depthwise thereinto, said supports with their respective members thereon being relatively movable in two transverse directions parallel to the surfaces of the mounted blank members and also perpendicularly to said surfaces, so that on relative movement between said supports to produce with said first tool member on the mounted blank member on said first support a three-dimensional pattern with its pattern outline on the exposed surface thereof, said second tool member will simultaneously reproduce on the mounted blank member on-said second support the same three-dimensional pattern with its pattern outline on the exposed surface thereof being the mirror image of that on the mounted blank member on said first support.

Rossbacher Dec. 1, 1-942 Sallwey et al Apr. 22, 1958 

